Steam hoop jumping

[runzwithsizorz]

Trying to set up Mz, Runz new gaming computer. Two of the *retail* games that she bought, and wanted me to install are; Metro2033, and Deus Ex HR. Seems these 2 games are somehow tethered to Steam. She *is* a Steam member. So what is the *trick* or hoop I have to jump though to install these games, and for her to play them *single player, off line*. Do I move, or install these in a *special file?*. I'm too old for this crap, in my day you bought a game, if you up-graded, or bought a new computer, you re-installed, when you were tired of the game you gave it away, or sold it for a couple of bucks.

 

[KaOTiK]

Are the games registered on her Steam account already? If not take the serial number of the games and in the Steam client on the bottom left there is a + ADD A GAME... button click it and select Activate a Product on Steam and enter the key it. It will register that game to the account.

Now the game is on the account (whether you just registered it from above or it was already registered). To install it you just click on the LIBRARY button on the top of the client and simply select the game and click install or right click on it and select install. It will ask you where you want to install it and start downloading it.

After you have the game(s) downloaded you can then in the Steam client click the Steam button on the top left corner and select Go offline.. and it will put Steam into offline mode.

It is really simple and quick process to do.

 

[sweenish]

Faster to just let the installer run, log into Steam when prompted, enter serial, and install from disk.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Are the games registered on her Steam account already? If not take the serial number of the games and in the Steam client on the bottom left there is a + ADD A GAME... button click it and select Activate a Product on Steam and enter the key it. It will register that game to the account.

Now the game is on the account (whether you just registered it from above or it was already registered). To install it you just click on the LIBRARY button on the top of the client and simply select the game and click install or right click on it and select install. It will ask you where you want to install it and start downloading it.

After you have the game(s) downloaded you can then in the Steam client click the Steam button on the top left corner and select Go offline.. and it will put Steam into offline mode.

It is really simple and quick process to do.

Tried that, DOES NOT WORK!

 

[KaOTiK]

Tried that, DOES NOT WORK!

Need a bit more than DOES NOT WORK!

What does it say?

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Faster to just let the installer run, log into Steam when prompted, enter serial, and install from disk.

Do not recall any prompts when I first installed these 2 games. I could do a re-install and see what happens???, but don't I have to install to a special file, or folder? To be clear, these games were installed *BEFORE* she installed Steam on this computer.

 

[pontifex]

is OP trying to use games from his account?

 

[pontifex]

Do not recall any prompts when I first installed these 2 games. I could do a re-install and see what happens???, but don't I have to install to a special file, or folder? To be clear, these games were installed *BEFORE* she installed Steam on this computer.

not possible - deus ex is steamworks, not sure about metro 2033.

must be a cracked version or something then.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

is OP trying to use games from his account?

Not sure what that means, these games were retail store purchased.
And YES I am a noob to Steam.

 

[KeithTalent]

Not sure what that means, these games were retail store purchased.
And YES I am a noob to Steam.

He's wondering if they have been activated on another account yet. Apparently not?

Can you just type the key into the "activate a product on Steam" area?

KT

 

[pontifex]

just checked on Metro 2033, its also steamworks so there is no way these were installed without steam.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

not possible - deus ex is steamworks, not sure about metro 2033.

must be a cracked version or something then.

Like I said, I don't recall. Perhaps just a re-install from the game CD's now that Steam has been installed? Hopefully there will be prompts as to where the game *should* be installed? Should I try that now? When she installed Steam, Metro pretty much disappeared, but Deus Ex still has a folder containing some *stuff*.
Should I delete ALL evidence of the two before a re-install?

 

[blackened23]

The retail boxed versions of these games include a steam client on the DVD and will force you to install it, if it isn't present. The steam key is somewhere on the DVD or instruction manual, because i've had the boxed version of Metro 2033.

It is not possible to install these games prior to installing steam. The DVD installer will not let you. The DVD installer also registers the game for you through steam. If your game didn't, there is something fishy about your copy - It sounds like you have a pirated or cracked DVD. Anyway, Adding these games with a client is easy, take the steam key, add game (steam menu), done. Sounds like you have a cracked/pirated copy or DVD. Or perhaps they're used. If they are used games your key will not be valid. If they were used prior by the same person, you need to log into the owner's steam account.

 

[blackened23]

Like I said, I don't recall. Perhaps just a re-install from the game CD's now that Steam has been installed? Hopefully there will be prompts as to where the game *should* be installed? Should I try that now? When she installed Steam, Metro pretty much disappeared, but Deus Ex still has a folder containing some *stuff*.
Should I delete ALL evidence of the two before a re-install?

All you need is a valid steam key which comes with the retail boxed games and a steam install. Install the latest version of steam from their website and all you need to worry about is finding the steam key in your packaging. That is it - Steam key. Once you have a valid new key the process takes about 2 seconds to activate, and then steam does the rest in terms of installation.

If your keys don't work, it sounds you have (as mentioned earlier) pirated, cracked, or used DVDs. Which are a no-go.

 

[Dankk]

Hey Runz,

So basically, DE:HR and Metro 2033 are both Steamworks games, which means they require Steam in order to run.

If you have physical box copies of the games, then the simplest way to install them would be to open up Steam, log into your wife's account, and then insert the game disc(s) into your DVD drive.

If all goes according to plan, an auto-run dialog should pop up on your computer. You can start the installation from there, and it should install the game to your Steam directory in the Windows Program Files by default.

Sometime, during the course of installation, it will ask you for an activation key (or a serial number). Punch in the serial number located somewhere on a slip of paper inside your game box. This will permanently tie the game to your wife's Steam account. Once that happens, it cannot be activated again.

Alternatively, you can skip the disc-based install, and simply insert the activation key into Steam using the method KaOTiK described above ("Add a Game" > "Activate a Product on Steam".) This will allow you to simply download the game from Steam's servers, like any other Steam game.

The Steam client is a fairly non-intrusive form of DRM. It does, however, require internet access to activate your newly-purchased games; and in most cases, you'll have to log in in order to play.

Fortunately there is an Offline mode that allows you to play your game without signing in ("Steam" > "Offline".) It's been spotty for some people in the past, but it's mostly fixed now and it should work. Give it a try and let us know what happens.

I hope that helps.

 

[pontifex]

Hey Runz,

So basically, DE:HR and Metro 2033 are both Steamworks games, which means they require Steam in order to run.

If you have physical box copies of the games, then the simplest way to install them would be to open up Steam, log into your wife's account, and then insert the game disc(s) into your DVD drive.

If all goes according to plan, an auto-run dialog should pop up on your computer. You can start the installation from there, and it should install the game to your Steam directory in the Windows Program Files by default.

Sometime, during the course of installation, it will ask you for an activation key (or a serial number). Punch in the serial number located somewhere on a slip of paper inside your game box. This will permanently tie the game to your wife's Steam account. Once that happens, it cannot be activated again.

Alternatively, you can skip the disc-based install, and simply insert the activation key into Steam using the method KaOTiK described above ("Add a Game" > "Activate a Product on Steam".) This will allow you to simply download the game from Steam's servers, like any other Steam game.

The Steam client is a fairly non-intrusive form of DRM. It does, however, require internet access to activate your newly-purchased games; and in most cases, you'll have to log in in order to play.

Fortunately there is an Offline mode that allows you to play your game without signing in ("Steam" > "Offline".) It's been spotty for some people in the past, but it's mostly fixed now and it should work. Give it a try and let us know what happens.

I hope that helps.

thats what i would try next. If that doesn't work then the keys have to be tied to another account.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Hey Runz,

So basically, DE:HR and Metro 2033 are both Steamworks games, which means they require Steam in order to run.

If you have physical box copies of the games, then the simplest way to install them would be to open up Steam, log into your wife's account, and then insert the game disc(s) into your DVD drive.

If all goes according to plan, an auto-run dialog should pop up on your computer. You can start the installation from there, and it should install the game to your Steam directory in the Windows Program Files by default.

Sometime, during the course of installation, it will ask you for an activation key (or a serial number). Punch in the serial number located somewhere on a slip of paper inside your game box. This will permanently tie the game to your wife's Steam account. Once that happens, it cannot be activated again.

Alternatively, you can skip the disc-based install, and simply insert the activation key into Steam using the method KaOTiK described above ("Add a Game" > "Activate a Product on Steam".) This will allow you to simply download the game from Steam's servers, like any other Steam game.

The Steam client is a fairly non-intrusive form of DRM. It does, however, require internet access to activate your newly-purchased games; and in most cases, you'll have to log in in order to play.

Fortunately there is an Offline mode that allows you to play your game without signing in ("Steam" > "Offline".) It's been spotty for some people in the past, but it's mostly fixed now and it should work. Give it a try and let us know what happens.

I hope that helps.

So is this the plan guys?? Must I really be logged on to Steam before inserting the CD. If so I am ready to try.

 

[natto fire]

So is this the plan guys?? Must I really be logged on to Steam before inserting the CD. If so I am ready to try.

Never went through this myself but I also haven't bought a boxed game for over 6 years. I would give it a try and report back.

Main reason I posted was to describe how Steam's offline mode has made a 180 in functionality for me. It used to be very troublesome, and the last two times I have used it was absolutely perfect.

I also have been using small mode and not sure if that had anything to do with it, but the last time I went to play Torchlight II when I was without internet it was only a few seconds after clicking the Steam client that I was playing the game.

No warning dialogs about not having a connection, no warnings that I had not played the game in offline mode before, just click, double click, bam, I was playing Torchlight.

Best of luck with your problem, I have also never had any issues from the numerous Humble Bundles and using the "Activate Product on Steam" with a key as described above.

 

[KMFJD]

Your wife had to sign up to steam in order to install it, enter in her email account and click forgot password, have her log in, and then you'll be able to download the game.

 

[cmdrdredd]

So is this the plan guys?? Must I really be logged on to Steam before inserting the CD. If so I am ready to try.

When I install games from a CD or DVD (I always buy boxed copies if possible), the installer will automatically open steam and ask for the install location, and prompt me for my key, then instead of downloading the game it reads it off the disk. If this is not working, yes log into steam and have the window open and see if that lets it function.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Your wife had to sign up to steam in order to install it, enter in her email account and click forgot password, have her log in, and then you'll be able to download the game.

Good advice.

Also, a download from Steam would get you the latest patched version.

I remember the last time I reinstalled Neverwinter Nights from CD and that was much less fun -- swapping CDs, then going through downloading of 10+ patches (not exaggerating) one by one, with a few patch download failures and retries along the way. It took at least half an hour and many many mouse clicks.

Steam might take just as long, but it happens in the background while you go do something else.

 

[sweenish]

At some point you had to have done something weird. Skyrim and Dishonered were both very straightforward when I installed them from disk.

 

[Phanuel]

Yeah, just log into her Steam account and go to her Library and click Download/Install on both those games assuming they were already attached to her account.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Yea, dont really understand why you are having problems. I have never had problems installing a game from DVD that required Steam. I havent done it in a long time, so I dont remember exactly what I had to do. But IIRC, just put in the DVD and follow the prompts, it pretty much tells you what you have to do. You do of course have to be in on-line mode when doing the install. Going off-line is a bit counter-intuitive, in that you have to be on-line to go into offline mode. Just click on Steam--go off line, and you are good to go. Any time you go online though for any reason you have to go into offline mode manually again.

I used to be frustrated with Steam a lot, but recently, I have not had any problems, except for the sort of glitch that you have to be online to go into offline mode.